Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes in African Americans.

ABSTRACT: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health problem showing substantial ethnic disparity in disease prevalence. African Americans have one of the highest prevalence of T2D in the USA but little is known about their genetic risks. This review summarizes the findings of genetic regions and loci associated with T2D and related glycemic traits using linkage, admixture, and association approaches in populations of African ancestry. In particular, findings from genome-wide association and exome chip studies suggest the presence of both ancestry-specific and shared loci for T2D and glycemic traits. Among the European-identified loci that are transferable to individuals of African ancestry, allelic heterogeneity as well as differential linkage disequilibrium and risk allele frequencies pose challenges and opportunities for fine mapping and identification of causal variant(s) by trans-ancestry meta-analysis. More genetic research is needed in African ancestry populations including the next-generation sequencing to improve the understanding of genetic architecture of T2D.

SUBMITTER: Ng MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4540762 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature